Friday, October 28, 2011

FEATURED TITLE

1) Dunn, Jon L. and Jonathan Alderfer. National Geographic Field Guide to the Birds of North America (Sixth Edition). 2011. National Geographic Society. Paperback: 574 pages. Price: $27.95 U.S.
SUMMARY: National Geographic Field Guide to the Birds of North America, 6th Edition contains the most all-new material since the first edition was published more than 25 years ago. The 6th and latest edition includes 300 new art figures (mostly of rarities and subspecies); unique subspecies maps never before seen in a field guide (detailed maps for 27 species are in a separate appendix, less detailed maps for 59 species are in the main text). extensive migration information overlaid on species maps (colored dark yellow for Spring/Autumn migration range, green for Spring range, pale yellow for Autumn range on the maps) ; field-mark labels on all artwork (this feature was added to the Western/Eastern guides from 2008); text updates to include (23, mostly rarities) new species; reorganization reflecting taxonomic changes in the bird community (AOU Checklist supplements); organization, readability, and increased page count (from 503 pages in the 5th to 574 pages in the 6th) with a fresh new design. The Visual Index To Bird Families on the front and rear flaps is retained from the Western/Eastern guides. Major artwork changes are made to the following groups: Anser Geese, Storm-Petrels, Sea-Eagles, long-billed Rails (they look too dark to me), Rhinoceros Auklet and Pacific Puffins, Cuculus Cuckoos, Nightjars, Crows and Ravens, Cistothorus Wrens, Kinglets (although they didn't get the leg color on the Golden-crowned Kinglet quite right), Phylloscopus Warblers, Palm Warbler, Waterthrushes, Chipping/Clay-colored/Brewer's Sparrows, Savannah Sparrow, White-crowned Sparrow, Emberiza Buntings, Passerina Buntings, Brown-headed Cowbird, Rosy-Finches, Carpodacus Finches. This is a MAJOR revision of the guide!
RECOMMENDATION: This title is a MUST have for every birder interested in North American birds, even if you own previous editions of this book! To enter a giveaway related to this book go to FACEBOOK here: http://www.facebook.com/NatGeoBooks?sk=app_250583268326247